Lobelia plant named ‘Lobetis’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lobelia  plant particularly distinguished by its upright compact round plant habit, large flower size and blue and white eye flower color.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lobelia×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Lobetis’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botantially known as Lobelia erinus. Interspecific Lobelia plant resulted from a cross between Lobelia erinus and Lobelia valida.

The new cultivar is propagated by cuttings resulting from the cross of Lobelia erinus ‘P140’ and Lobelia valida ‘Y694.’ ‘P140’ (unpatented) is a blue and white eye flower color selection of our own breeding, having a strong growth and a compact spreading plant habit. ‘Y694’ (unpatented) is a blue and white eye flower color cultivar in Lobelia valida.

As a result of this cross, the present cultivar was created in 1999 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a three-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Lobelia plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 12 weeks old plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Comparison between the new cultivar ‘Lobetis’ and a similar cultivar ‘Lobetis’ ‘Blue Star’ (unpatented) Plant height 20 cm 10 cm Plant width 25 cm 35 cm Plant shape Upright Spreading Flower color Upper surface 99B 95B Lower surface 97A 100A Flower tube 99C 95C

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical Lobelia×hybrida cv. ‘Lobetis’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘P140’ is one of our             seedings from our P-generation of plants bred in 1989. The             plant shape of the female parent is spreading.         -   Male parent.—Asexual propagated ‘Y694’ is a commercial not             patented variety. The plant shape of the male parent is             upright, erect. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—20 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—25 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate growth.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node. Pinching will enhance branching. Branches             strong and flexible.         -   Blooming period.—From May until October. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent, glossy.         -   Color.—RHS 138B.         -   Length of internode.—13 mm, depending on the light             conditions where the plant is propagated.         -   Shape.—(Tri)angular. -   The foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and flat.             Broadly ovate with rounded apex, obtuse to attenuate base             and crenate margin.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent, glossy.         -   Length.—Young 30 mm, fully expanded 55 mm.         -   Width.—Young 10 mm, fully expanded 23 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: RHS 147A. Lower side: RHS 137B. -   The flower:     -   -   Type and habit.—Flowers form at apical axils, usually one             flower per axil. Flowers labiate, upper lip consisting of             two small petals and lower lip consisting of three larger             and broader petals. Petals are fused at base into a tube.             Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers face outward.             Flowers persistent. Texture, slightly pubescent. Oblong             shape with acute apex and entire margin.         -   Flower.—Width: Upper petals 3 mm, lower petals 8 mm. Length:             Upper petals 6 mm, lower petals 12 mm. Depth: 8 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, pubescent.         -   Buds.—Length: 8 mm. Diameter: 3 mm. Form: Tubular. Color:             Light green.         -   Flower color.—Upper surface: RHS 99B. Lower surface: RHS             97A. Flower tube: RHS 99C.         -   Sepals.—No. of sepals: 5. Length: 7 mm. Width: 1 mm.             Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent. Color: RHS 147A.         -   Flower stem.—Length: 30 mm. Angle: Upright. Strength: Rigid,             flexible. Color: RHS 138B.         -   Flower throat.—Color: Upper RHS 100C. Lower white             background, blue spots RHS 99B. Texture: Whiskered. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             length: 2 mm. Pollen color: RHS 202B. Amount of pollen:             Moderate.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: 9 mm. Stigma shape: Bilobate.             Stigma diameter: 1 mm. Stigma color: N87A. Style color:             Light green. Ovary color: RHS 138B. -   The fruit:     -   -   Fruit size.—Diameter 2 mm.         -   Fruit length.—4 mm.         -   Fruit color.—RHS 138B. -   Seed development: Some seed development has been observed on plants     of the new Lobelia.     -   -   Seed colour.—Brown.         -   Seed shape.—Round. -   Disease resistance: No susceptibility nor resistance to fungal,     bacterial or viral pathogens has been noted. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Lobelia plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 